UTSA to bid on big DOD contracts

The University of Texas at San Antonio is now eligible to compete for a share of $93 million in U.S. Department of Defense contracts over the next five years, an opportunity with the potential to “change UTSA as we know it,” according to Robert Gracy, vice president for research at UTSA.

The chance to land some major government contract work comes at a key time for UTSA, which is jostling with six other Texas universities for Tier One research status.

“This is like becoming eligible to win the Super Bowl,” said Jim Massaro, assistant vice president for research development. “You can’t win if you’re never invited to play. Now we’ve been invited. Now we’re on the field.”

According to a university news release, “UTSA became eligible to bid for the DOD contracts by pairing with a partner group of companies and organizations” with an array of expertise. Led by STI Technologies, a mechanical engineering consulting firm, the group includes Battelle Corp., Texas Heart Institute and Information Technology and Communication.

“STI Technologies and Battelle initially identified the DOD opportunity, and invited UTSA to join because of the expertise offered through UTSA’s South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and its status as a Hispanic-serving institution,” the release said.

In 2009, UTSA reported $46.5 million in total research spending, a 34 percent increase over 2008.